Emma Raducanu's hopes of replicating her heroics from her run to the 2021 US Open title are over for another year after Sofia Kenin beat her in three sets at Flushing Meadows.
Raducanu is a fan favorite in New York because she is a former champion. Supporters flocked to watch her practice sessions, and the Briton seemed confident heading into the tournament.
She raised eyebrows in the run-up to the US Open by electing not to play in the qualifiers of the Canadian or the Cincinnati Open after not receiving a wild card for either event, surprising many people.
Raducanu responded to those questions by saying she has always done things differently. She did not regret her decision and felt it was the best way to prepare for the year's final Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old also said she had fire and desire before the US Open. Unfortunately, that desire to succeed did not help Raducanu against Kenin, who dominated the first set in particular on Grandstand.
Raducanu was under pressure from the start. She came through her opening service game after saving break points, and the former winner at the US Open may have hoped that would impact Kenin.
However, the 2020 Australian Open champion was exceptional for the remainder of the opening set, barely missing a shot and relentlessly pressing her opponent with her hitting from the baseline.
Kenin's backhand was especially impressive. It dominated most cross-court exchanges against Raducanu, whose backhand is usually one of the most solid in women's tennis.
The American reeled off six consecutive games to take the opening set 6-1. She was sublime from start to finish, and it was a long way back for Raducanu after being outclassed in the first set.
Raducanu showed her fighting spirit by breaking in the first game of the second set before losing the following two games. It seemed like the set could be a repeat of the first, with Kenin running away with it after losing the opening game.
However, at that stage, Kenin's level dropped for the first time in the match. Raducanu was playing more solidly and putting balls into the court more regularly, but Kenin's groundstrokes became wayward.
Raducanu won three games in a row to take a 4-2 lead. She then held a break point to go 5-2 up but could not take advantage. However, that did not end up costing the Briton.
She won two games from 4-3 up to seal the set 6-3. She hit an outstanding forehand winner down the line on set point, and the crowd became more involved in the match the longer it went on because of her shot-making.
Kenin did not panic, though, and steadied herself at the start of the second set. After the pair traded holds of serve in the first four games, the American broke Raducanu in the set's fifth game.
That proved to be the pivotal moment of the match. It knocked the wind out of the Briton's sails, and she could not regain her momentum from that point as Kenin grew in confidence again.
The 2020 Australian Open champion only needed that break to triumph 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Raducanu deserves credit for how she fought after the first set, but she ultimately came up short.
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